Does anyone actually LIKE their HBAR?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Does anyone actually LIKE their HBAR?

Posted: 8/17/2004 6:25:53 PM EDT

I've been seeing more and more threads where people are getting rid of or reprofiling their HBARs to M4 spec or otherwise. So, the questions is, does anyone actually not regret buying an HBAR? I just bought my first AR yesterday with a 16" HBAR and I really like it. Anyone else, or am I the minority?

Posted: 8/17/2004 6:34:22 PM EDT

[#1]

20" A2 HB for me, I may get a M4 on the side some day, but I'm not really that big on the 'inspector-gadget' gun thing...

And as for weight... The AR 'HBAR' isn't that heavy...

Now, a Savage 10FP with heavy bbl... That is one HEAVY barrel...

Posted: 8/17/2004 6:35:12 PM EDT

[#2]

My main rifle has a Bushmaster National Match heavy barrel on it. Yeah, the rifle is nose heavy, but I like it and especially I like its accuracy. I'll be keeping it in this configuration.

I've also got another AR with an SP1 type "pencil barrel", and it's really light and shoots nice, but the HBAR is a better shooter.

CJ

Posted: 8/17/2004 6:40:52 PM EDT

[#3]

I had three HBARs, 2 were 20" and 1 was 16", before I started buying M4s. In a carbine the HBAR is OK, but I really like the M4s weight and the longer HBARs are just too heavy.

Posted: 8/17/2004 6:42:28 PM EDT

[#4]

I like my 16" hbar but prefer government profile for 20"

Posted: 8/17/2004 7:06:39 PM EDT

[#5]

I purposely got my 16" Bushy a HBAR back in 94 and love the S%$# out of it....and I'll tell ya why. I like the stiffer less whip barrel for accuracy and the ability to not heat up as fast. and I like how it swings when I point from one tgt to another without being to light and swinging past it. The difference in weight from a M4 profile is about a 1/2 pound which is so minimal it's not even worth the breath to argue over. Hell any one with a redimag on their 'Lightweight" barrel just added a pound right their. but for me the choice was made due to the stiffness and ability to take heat. I could heat up a issue M-4 with a few mags real quick. I used My Bushy HBAR a few weeks ago at a 3 day Pat Roger's carbine class and I put 950 rd thru it. due to class size we ran two relays, but on the third day I was able to jump on both relays and pretty much pound some serious rounds thru my rifle and with the RAS and VFG on that 89 degree day. heat was not a problem at all. Yup... yes sir.. I am a HBAR fan..HBAR Carbine...HBAR 20" full size... HBAR Super Match M1A..did I mention I like HBARS???

but I do believe it boils down to personnel choice and what you like and what you want it to do fo you. YMMV...

Posted: 8/17/2004 7:14:07 PM EDT

[#6]

i like hbar's

Posted: 8/17/2004 7:49:46 PM EDT

[#7]

Hbars are very good for accuracy in 20". I have yet to see much benefit of them in 16".

Posted: 8/17/2004 7:57:53 PM EDT

[#8]

For me, nothing balances like a 20" HBAR.
It's like a Chinese acrobat.

Posted: 8/18/2004 4:55:12 AM EDT

[#9]

Posted: 8/18/2004 5:04:25 AM EDT

[#10]

Here's the way I look at the whole HBAR vs. gov't profile thing.

Competition shooters use HBARs or the heavier DCM profiles. SPRs and SAM-Rs use profiles heavier than gov't profile. There must be a reason for this.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:25:58 AM EDT

[#11]

Love my 14.5" HBAR I don't think I would carry anything else unless I had to hike more than 10 miles with my rifle.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:47:01 AM EDT

[#12]

HBAR's are great for shooting. Lightweights are good for carrying all day in case you need it for shooting. Subtle difference there....

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:48:08 AM EDT

[#13]

I have a 20" Colt HBAR. I love it. When I get another rifle it will be an HBAR as well.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:55:56 AM EDT

[#14]

Just put together a 20" Bushmaster H-Bar from a NM lower I bought a couple years ago and a complete upper I picked up at the last Indy 1500 for a song.
Will give a complete report as soon as i get it scoped.

With so many people converting to carbines, you can always find H Bar uppers for graet prices at gun shows. I hope the trend keeps going.

H-Bars are great!

Posted: 8/18/2004 7:02:46 AM EDT

[#15]

I'm happy with my 16" 1/9 HBAR. It does everything I need it to do with the exception that it doesn't seem to like any flavor of Hornady Heavy Match regardless of the weight. Besides that, it has worked so well for me that I just don't see the value in changing it.

Posted: 8/18/2004 9:07:59 AM EDT

[#16]

20" hbar flattop and happy for years.
Convinced the weight stabilizes the shooter more than it helps by bbl harmonics.

Posted: 8/18/2004 10:18:43 AM EDT

[#17]

Been getting into the gov't profile barrels more and more - especially in 16". In 20" target rifles, I still like HBAR's.

Posted: 8/18/2004 10:22:21 AM EDT

[#18]

Hbar's ONLY

Posted: 8/18/2004 10:22:42 AM EDT

[#19]

I like my 20" HBAR, thing is dead-nuts on. woudn't change it.

I do have a 14.5(16"w/fs) carbine (HB) don't want to change that either.

My issue rifle is the M4A1, that too works fine.

ask yourself if you really need to change the bbl.

Posted: 8/18/2004 10:24:02 AM EDT

[#20]

I've got a Colt HBAR 20":

It shoots under 1" @ 100 yards with my handloads, I love it!

I also own a Bushmaster 16" HBAR Upper rec'r group with an AK-style brake:

What's not to like?

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:02:48 PM EDT

[#21]

All mine are HBAR. I am not in the military and I don't plan my life around WTSHTF. I hunt with mine. I put great big damned scopes on them and not one single item hangs from the forearms except a sling and my left hand. I don't need a laser or a night scope or a range finder or a sonar or a lamp shade on my gun and my flashlights are in my backpack and pocket. If I ever have to shoot it out with somone with one of my AR's, my first move will not be fast target acqusition, it will be to find cover so I can shoot back from a very long ways away.

But I digress. My first one - a Colt Competition HBar Match that everyone laughed at me for buying shoots .3's all day with handloads.

I have an RRA 20" that is a sub MOA gun with several different factory loads. The other is an Oly that I have had some accuracy issues with, but I'm working on them. It is a 16" SUM and is still a 1MOA gun (I just think it should be better than that). On this one I have BUIS, a low power (3-10x) compact scope with about 4" eye relief and an Eotech red dot that can be attached if necessary. I guess that's 'what if' enough.

Oh by the way... my next one will be a 24" HBar varminter in .243WSSM and the one after that will be in .458 SOCOM, so I guess that's a considered an HBar, huh?

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:15:46 PM EDT

[#22]

freaks

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:35:11 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
I like my 16" hbar but prefer government profile for 20"

+1

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:51:48 PM EDT

[#24]

I liked my HBAR well enough, but I like it now even better (medium contour).

Profile thread.

ADCO bbl re-contour and Troy Ind. MRF-MX -- Now with PICS!!

Posted: 8/18/2004 1:13:04 PM EDT

[#25]

I like my 20" hbar, very accurate and sets very steady for accuracy shooting. Hopefully soon I will be popping off a few rounds in a highpower match with it.

Posted: 8/18/2004 1:19:41 PM EDT

[#26]

ME LIKE 'EM................................................nuttin' git's er done like a 20" HBAR 1/9 FLAT TOP W/ 50mm obj. Mil-dot scope where AR'S are concerned . 12g. , M-4 or AK for CQC!

Posted: 8/18/2004 1:37:00 PM EDT

[#27]

I love my HBAR.

I love all my AR's.

I can't wait to get more.

MORE!!!!! MORE!!!!!!

MWUAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!

(ehem... I have BRD bad!)

Posted: 8/18/2004 2:04:11 PM EDT

[#28]

Like them for FA.......poor man's LMG upper. They are also very easy to shoot well, steady from field positions.

Sam

Posted: 8/18/2004 7:53:24 PM EDT

[#29]

My Colt HBAR is a tack driver.

Love it.

Posted: 8/18/2004 9:00:01 PM EDT

[#30]

I like mine. HBARs have their place...

Posted: 8/18/2004 9:23:21 PM EDT

[#31]

I have an M4 profile HB and I have no problems with it. I love it.

Posted: 8/19/2004 8:37:58 PM EDT

[#32]

I have 2 ar-15s, a colt sp1 and a rock river 20'' H-bar. As a marine rifleman I can say my H-bar shoots better than any A2 or A1 that I ever used in the corps. Semper Fi.

Posted: 8/19/2004 8:52:59 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
My Colt HBAR is a tack driver.

Love it.

+1

Posted: 8/19/2004 9:29:51 PM EDT

[#34]

I HATE my 20" Hbar! It is way too front heavy and takes too long to cool off. Infact I am going to order a Govt. Profile to replace it after the ban is gone.

I do however have a fluted 20" Hbar and it is MUCH better! It is much more balanced.

Posted: 8/20/2004 9:18:33 AM EDT

[#35]

16" HBAR here. Wouldn't have it any other way

Posted: 8/20/2004 11:04:08 AM EDT

[#36]

What a lot of people don't realize is that the reduction in weight also leads to less barrel stability on target-to-target transitions. There is a reason why skeet shooters actually choose heavier barrels over lighter barrels (and their sport revolves around hiting multiple moving targets). I'll take results over convenience any day of the week. HBAR all the way!!

Posted: 8/20/2004 11:14:27 AM EDT

[#37]

yes.

Posted: 8/20/2004 2:36:19 PM EDT

[#38]

I used to use my stock pre-ban Colt H-BAR as my primary carry weapon on the border, but was disappointed with the accuracy, 2" MOA (using the heavier SS109 nato armor piercing round and did try some 69 grain match ammo in it too) . My other carry weapon was a stock pre-ban Car-15 SP1 and it had better accuracy even with the shorter and thinner barrel, 1" MOA (55 gr. Federal ammo, nothing special). My only regret was not purchasing the Colt H-BAR Delta Elite and trying it out for accuracy in the pre-ban years.

The reason I stilled carried the H-BAR over the Car-15 (and other pre-ban Colts in my collection at the time) was the heavier barrel would reduce muzzle jump making multiple target acquisition quicker. It may not seem like much of a reduction in jump with the 223 round, but it is noticeable enough and if others where shooting back at you, it may be enough to make a difference - always looking for the edge no matter how minute.

Kevin

Posted: 8/20/2004 2:41:31 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
I used to use my stock pre-ban Colt H-BAR as my primay carry weapon on the border, but was disappointed with the accuracy, 2" MOA (using the heavier SS109 nato armour piercing round and did try some 69 grain match ammo in it too) . My other carry weapon was a stock pre-ban Car-15 SP1 and it had better accuracy even with the shorter and thinner barrel, 1" MOA (55 gr. Federal ammo, nothing special). My only regret was not purchasing the Colt H-BAR Delta Elite and trying it out for accuracy in the pre-ban years.

The reason I stilled carried the H-BAR over the Car-15 (and other pre-ban Colts in my collection at the time) was the heavier barrel would reduce muzzle jump making multiple target acquisition quicker. It may not seem like much of a reduction in jump with the 223 round, but it is noticeable enough and if others where shooting back at you, it may be enough to make a difference - always looking for the edge no matter how minute.

Kevin

One of the best reasoned explanations I've seen for using an HBAR. Nice!